The father of missing British teenager Jay Slater describes enduring “a living hell” as the search for his son continues into its second week in Tenerife.
While addressing reporters in Santiago del Teide, approximately four miles from the ongoing search, Warren Slater said, “I just want him found.”
On Monday, police vehicles were stationed at the start of a mountain path close to where the 19-year-old’s cell phone last signaled.
Since making a call to a friend on the island eight days ago, in which he mentioned being lost, with his phone battery low and in need of water, there has been no communication from Mr. Slater.
Teams with specialized search dogs have been deployed, focusing primarily on a region adjacent to a national park in northwest Tenerife.
Mr. Slater’s father has been reaching out to the community in Santiago del Teide for assistance, following a lead about a potential sighting in the area.
They have distributed missing person posters in Spanish, placing them in locations such as the tourist information center and various shop windows.
Overcome with emotion, Warren Slater told the media, “Somebody must know something. I just want him to be found. That’s it.”
Search operations are being conducted under difficult conditions in the Rural de Teno National Park, where Mr. Slater was last reported.
On Sunday, Guardia Civil officers were seen inspecting two buildings at the base of a ravine within the park.
The search efforts have been concentrated mainly in this area after extensive searches in the nearby village of Masca and the surrounding landscape.
When asked about the progress of the search, local police stated they do not disclose details about ongoing investigations.
Describing the difficulty of the task, a UK volunteer referred to the search as “looking for a needle in a haystack.”
Mr. Slater had separated from his friends earlier during their trip to the popular tourist destination of Playa de las Americas, located on the island’s southern side.
After attending the NRG music festival at Papagayo nightclub, the young apprentice bricklayer left with two acquaintances to head to the national park in northwest Tenerife.
NRG issued a statement calling Mr. Slater’s disappearance a “devastating situation” that has greatly impacted everyone, with ongoing hopes for his safe return.
Lancashire Police reported that although they offered assistance to the Spanish authorities, they were informed that the resources in Tenerife were sufficient.
This trip was Mr. Slater’s first vacation without his family, and he had traveled to the festival with two friends.
Lucy Law, reportedly the last person to speak to him, said he had missed a bus and chose to walk the 10-hour journey home but was lost, dehydrated, and his phone was nearly dead.
Earlier this week, a fundraising page established by Ms. Law to aid in the search raised over £30,000 in donations.
PH Build Group, Mr. Slater’s employer, removed a Facebook post about the missing teenager due to an overwhelming number of negative comments.
“Jay has been with us since he left school and is liked by all. He’s a valued member of our team and we stand by him,” the construction company wrote.
“The fact is, he’s a 19-year-old lad missing in a foreign country. He needs to be back home where he belongs.”
The Rural de Teno Park, situated about a 40-minute drive from where Mr. Slater and his friends were based, contrasts sharply with the bustling tourist scenes of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas.
The park, characterized by its remote, rugged terrain with deep ravines and towering mountains, poses significant challenges for the search teams.
